Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Gov't may shoulder full cost of cheap rice program by 2026: Marcos

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. joins farmers, stakeholders, and beneficiaries in a simple salu-salo at the KADIWA Center under the Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) program at the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) compound in Quezon City on May 15, 2025. The event marks the first day of selling rice at ₱20 per kilo, promotes affordable rice access, and reaffirms the government’s support for local farmers. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Pia Gutierrez

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175021827912120250515-benteng-bigas-program-MT-8.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. joins farmers, stakeholders, and beneficiaries in a simple salu-salo at the KADIWA Center under the Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) program at the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) compound in Quezon City on May 15, 2025. The event marks the first day of selling rice at ₱20 per kilo, promotes affordable rice access, and reaffirms the government’s support for local farmers. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. joins farmers, stakeholders, and beneficiaries in a simple salu-salo at the KADIWA Center under the Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) program at the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) compound in Quezon City on May 15, 2025. The event marks the first day of selling rice at ₱20 per kilo, promotes affordable rice access, and reaffirms the government’s support for local farmers. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said local government units may no longer be required to shoulder the cost of the P20-per-kilo rice program as the national government looks for ways to fund it by next year.</p><p>The national government and LGUs currently subsidize the P20/kilo cheap rice program, which is available to vulnerable sectors through Kadiwa ng Pangulo outlets.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/6/16/tupad-workers-to-man-kadiwa-stores-as-gov-t-expands-p20-rice-nationwide-1720">TUPAD workers to man Kadiwa stores as gov&#x27;t expands sale of P20 rice nationwide</a></div><p>“Let&#x27;s go further. Ang nangyari kasi ngayon, we are in partnership with the LGUs. Eventually I&#x27;m looking at a proposal na next year wala ng contribution ang LGU. Ang contribution lahat sa national government,” Marcos said.</p><p>He said the government is currently supplying enough rice to cover about 51 percent of the population, with plans to expand the program until “bigas for all” is achieved.</p><p>“So sa ngayon, we are providing the volumes that are sufficient for 51 percent of our population. That&#x27;s for now, and hopefully we will bring it up, up to the point that bigas for all. It will all be P20,” he said.</p><p>The President expressed confidence in the sustainability of the program, citing improvements in rice production, better irrigation, mechanization, and research into high-yielding varieties.</p><p>“Since our production is already going up, bababa ang cost of production. Since bababa ang cost of production, di ang pagbenta, kung bibili ang NFA, ang pagbenta ng NFA, pababa nang pababa,” Marcos said.</p><p>“That&#x27;s why I&#x27;m so confident masabi sustainable... Pag ka gumanda na ang production side natin, maibababa natin. Wala ng subsidy,&quot; he added.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p6vS_xMB7oQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0LBxb9OetgI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The national government and LGUs currently subsidize the P20/kilo cheap rice program for vulnerable sectors through Kadiwa outlets.</p>

The national government and LGUs currently subsidize the P20/kilo cheap rice program for vulnerable sectors through Kadiwa outlets.